USB cable packing system

ABSTRACT

A cable holder comprises a substantially hollow transparent plastic upper member, a substantially hollow plastic lower member and a retaining member forming a pair of grooves. Each groove holds a protruding cable terminal and section of cable when each end of cable is mounted in each groove. The retaining member fits with the substantially hollow upper or lower member in a recessed position when a user depresses the retaining member into the substantially hollow member.

DISCUSSION OF RELATED ART

The need to permit digital electronic communication between two or more digital electronic devices and apparatus has rapidly growing in the past five years. To implement the digital electronic communication between the computers and the network, various communication protocols have been developed. Universal Serial Bus (USB) is one of the protocol interfaces being commonly adopted nowadays.

Traditionally, computer cable packages such as USB cables, serial cables and phone cables were packaged in blister packages or plastic bags. Other disposable methods for packaging cables included hang tags and other packaging that included means for retail display of cable.

A cable and the terminals at each end of the cable come in a wide variety and are difficult to distinguish. A purchaser often encounters a wide variety of seemingly similar cables. The similarity in packaging creates frustration and confusion.

Unfortunately, frustrated consumers trying to purchase the correct cable type often purchase the wrong kind of cable and are frustrated in selecting from different kinds of cable. Oftentimes, the cable is hidden in an opaque container. Retail stores additionally have the problem of opened containers because of frustrated consumers who opened the containers in an attempt to verify the correct cable type. Many opened containers cannot be easily closed and cleaned up after a consumer opens the package. Some kinds of packaging such as blister packaging, cardboard boxes or plastic bags do not recover cosmetically after a consumer rips open the packaging.

A consumer is also unable to use the packaging after purchase. The packaging can no longer store the cable once opened.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION

It is a primary object of the invention to provide a reusable canister for holding a cable. It is a secondary object of the present invention to display cable terminals to a consumer shopper.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective exploded view of the present invention

FIG. 2 is a diagram of the invention showing vertical cable storage

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing helical cable storage

FIG. 4 is a side view of the lower member

FIG. 5 is a side view of the upper member

FIG. 6 is a cross sectional view of the upper member

FIG. 7 is a top of view of the upper member

FIG. 8 is a side view of the lower member of second embodiment

FIG. 9 is a side view of the upper member of second embodiment

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The present invention, FIG. 1, includes a pair of housing members joining to form a unitary housing for holding a cable. The hollowed upper member 150 and hollowed lower member 110 attach at a junction forming a housing. The cable is wound and held in the lower member. The opposite ends of the cable form terminal connections adapted to connect to electronic equipment. The pair of opposite ends of the cable is held in a retaining member 120 having a pair of grooves 122. Each groove receives an end of cable and holds the terminal connection vertically for display in the transparent upper member.

The lower member is transparent and allows viewing of the cable terminals. The upper member is preferably cylindrical forming a cover or upper cap showing the opposite ends of the cable. The transparent upper member and substantially hollow plastic lower member have a circular cross section. Alternatively, the transparent upper member and substantially hollow plastic lower member may have a rectangular or an oval cross section.

The hollowed members are preferably thin walled and made of plastic material such as polypropelene or polystyrene material used in disposable plastic cups. The transparent upper member is made of a flexible plastio material. A transparent disposable plastic cup may be used for the upper member.

The cable may be wound around the inside of the hollowed lower member. The retaining member is formed from a circular disk of cardboard stock punched to form a pair of grooves, which ca also be made of plastic. The retaining member is folded. The circular disk defines a cross section of the hollow inside wall of the lower member, where the periphery preferably matches the periphery of the inside of the lower member.

The lower member may be formed of a vertical cross section increasing from the open end and diminishing to a closed end. The closed end cross section being smaller than that of the open end cross section.

A cylindrical inside cross section retains by interference fit a circular disk of card stock having a size between the closed-end cross section and the larger open end cross section such that it falls down vertically to an equilibrium position when placed inside the hollow lower member. A user presses in the retaining member to form an interference fit.

The ends of the cable holding the connector members are displayed in the transparent upper cover member. When a user places the ends of the cable in the grooves of the circular disk, the grooves retain the cable by interference fit. The cable when placed into the lower hollow member can be wound in a number of ways. The cable may be wound having an axis parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the canister. The cable may also be wound vertically traveling up and down parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the canister.

The upper member can be formed to have a threaded portion to fit into a threaded portion formed on the lower member. The upper member and the lower member are formed to either threaded or, alternatively, snap together. A band of shrink wrap plastic can also be used around the interface periphery of the upper and lower member to retain the upper and lower member together.

FIG. 2 The upper member threaded portion 152 and the lower member threaded portion 112 can be formed by thermoplastic deforming of the wall. The upper and lower members twist together to form a canister. The retaining member 120 fits into the inside of the lower member 110 and creates a platform capable of holding a USB cable between a groove 122 in the circular retaining member 120. The circular shape platform 120 conforms to the inside of the lower portion 110. The circular shape platform 120 can be constructed of cardboard. The cardboard conforms to the inside of the lower portion 110 when a user pushes the cardboard into the lower portion. When installed, the connector ends of the cable protrude upward from the retaining member.

Alternatively, in FIG. 8, 9, the upper and lower members twist together to form a canister. The retaining member 120 fits into the inside of the upper member and creates a platform capable of holding a USB cable between a groove 122 in the circular retaining member 120. The circular shape platform 120 conforms to the inside of the upper member. The circular shape platform 120 can be constructed of cardboard. The cardboard conforms to the inside of the upper member when a user pushes the cardboard into the upper member. When installed, the connector ends of the cable protrude upward from the retaining member. The retaining member can be made of a plastic spongy foam piece.

The lower portion stores a cable. Cable has a first end and a second end. These terminals are displayed and held by the slot 122. The transparent upper portion 150 displays the terminals so that a user may see the terminals without seeing the length of cable stored in the lower portion 110.

The cable can be wrapped as shown,in FIG. 2. Cable is often wound vertically and retained by a wire tie. In this case, a wire tie is not necessary. The cable can also be stored in a spiral as shown in FIG. 3. The spiral helix travels the length of the interior wall of the lower portion 110.

In FIG. 4, the side view shows that the formation of the wall is sufficient to form a helical thread. FIG. 5 shows the same formation 152 in the upper portion 150. FIG. 6 shows the cross section of the upper portion 150. The upper portion has a slot 154, FIG. 7, capable of retaining a planar tag 180. The slot has a pair of through slots or holes 158 that protrude from the outside of the upper portion 150 to the inside of the upper portion 150. The tag 180 has a pair of protrusions 182 that protrude through the through holes 158 and into the inside of the upper portion 150. The protrusions retain the tag firmly against the top of the upper portion 150. The tag 180 can be perforated so that a user can hang the entire device using the hangtag.

FIG. 4 to FIG. 7 display the preferred embodiment showing the radius of the opening of upper member is substantially larger than the opening of lower member. Alternatively from FIG. 8 to FIG. 9, the housing members can be made as opposite, whereas the opening of the lower member is substantially larger than the upper member. In the alternative embodiment, the upper member and the lower member are formed to thread together, having the threaded portion of the upper member fit into the threaded portion formed on the lower member. The retaining member is inserted into the member having the smaller radius.

Call Out List of Elements

-   110 Lower Member -   112 Threaded Portion Of Lower Member -   120 Retaining Member -   122 Retaining Notch -   150 Upper Member -   152 Threaded Portion Of Upper Member -   154 Through Slot -   158 Slot For Holding Tag -   180 Hang Tag -   182 Hang Tag Protrusions -   225 USB Cable 

1. A cable holder comprising: a substantially hollow transparent plastic upper member; a substantially hollow plastic lower member receiving the upper member; and a retaining member forming a pair of grooves, each groove holding a protruding cable terminal and section of cable when each end of cable is mounted in each groove, wherein the retaining member fits into the substantially hollow upper member in a recessed position when a user depresses the retaining member into the substantially hollow upper member.
 2. The cable holder of claim 1 further comprising, a planar shaped tab member shaped to fit into a slot located on the top surface of the hollow upper member, wherein the tab member forms a hanging hole and a pair of protrusions shaped to first fit into a pair of through holes in the slot of the hollow upper member and to secondly retain the tab member in the slot.
 3. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the transparent upper member and substantially hollow plastic lower member have a circular cross section.
 4. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the transparent upper member and substantially hollow plastic lower member have a rectangular cross section.
 5. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the transparent upper member and substantially hollow plastic lower member have an oval cross section.
 6. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the transparent upper member is made of a flexible plastic material.
 7. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the retaining member is made of cardboard.
 8. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the retaining member is made of plastic.
 9. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the retaining member has a periphery matching the periphery of the inside of the lower member.
 10. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the inside lower member has a nub that releasably retains the retaining member.
 11. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower member are formed to snap together.
 12. The cable holder of claim 1 wherein the upper and lower member are retained together by a band of shrink wrap plastic around the interface periphery of the upper and lower member.
 13. A method of storing computer cable comprising the steps of: forming a hollow transparent upper member; forming a substantially hollow lower member; inserting a retaining member forming a pair of grooves into the substantially hollow lower member, so that the retaining member fits into the substantially hollow lower member in a recessed position having snug contact with the inside wall of the hollow lower member; attaching cable into the retaining member, so that one end of the cable attaches into one end of the retaining member while the other end of the cable attaches into the other end of the retaining member.
 14. The method of claim 13, wherein the transparent upper member and substantially hollow plastic lower member have a circular cross section.
 15. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of winding the cable vertically lengthwise.
 16. The method of claim 13, wherein the substantially hollow plastic lower member has a vertical axis.
 17. The method of claim 13, further comprising the step of winding the cable helically around vertical axis.
 18. A cable holder comprising: a substantially hollow transparent plastic upper member; a substantially hollow plastic lower member receiving the upper member; and a retaining member forming a pair of grooves, each groove holding a protruding cable terminal and section of cable when each end of cable is mounted in each groove, wherein the retaining member fits into the substantially hollow lower member in a recessed position when a user depresses the retaining member into the substantially hollow lower member.
 19. The cable holder of claim 18, further comprising, a planar shaped tab member shaped to fit into a slot located on the top surface of the hollow upper member, wherein the tab member forms a hanging hole and a pair of protrusions shaped to first fit into a pair of through holes in the slot of the hollow upper member and to secondly retain the tab member in the slot.
 20. The cable holder of claim 18, wherein the transparent upper member and substantially hollow plastic lower member have a circular cross section. 